Mentoring

I like and agree with all of that, except for the being available 24/7. If they’re with me on the truck, that’s one thing, but if they’re no longer with me, I need to be reasonable too. My getting adequate rest matters for safe operation of the CMV.

 

I’m sure negative reinforcement or punishment is an effective way to teach, but I would think that it would instill fear, and mistrust in the mentee. It wouldn’t be my way of doing things. Kind of makes me think of people who use shock collars to train dogs. I would never support such methods.

 

I only speak English, so I would not be capable of teaching someone who didn’t have a solid understanding of that language at this juncture.

 

Agreed on all of that. I touched on these things in a previous post, but I feel a good teacher is first and foremost patient, gentle in spirit, encouraging and kind. Yelling and belittling a student only creates fear and agitates negative possibilities.

 

I personally feel that it is presumptive, foolish, and down-right mean for female students to assume that male mentors have ill intentions, are unsafe, or are unprofessional. This is a male dominated industry. If a woman can not deal with a man in a professional context, it makes me question whether she can handle working in this industry. Yes there are exceptions to the rule, but the vast majority of male mentors out there, aren’t there because they want to rape women. Female students demanding female mentors sure does give the impression that they think the worst of them, and I find that mentality offensive. I would prefer male students, because I do not want to enable or support that sort of attitude.

 

Do I know how? Yes. Will I drive if the weather is bad enough to require chains assuming I can get to some place safe to park before they become needed? Absolutely not! I’m not trying to be super trucker. I’m trying to be safe out there and make it home safe.